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String figure magic trick

Old-fashioned string games like cat's cradle are a fun way to develop your child's fine motor skills. This string figure magic trick looks complicated, but if you watch our video tutorial below you'll see how simple this string game is.

Number of players:

1

What you need:

1 x 40cm piece of string looped and tied together at the ends

Activity:

Here's how to do the string figure magic trick.

Step 1: Start with the string running across your right palm, between your thumb and forefinger. Point your middle finger and ring finger forward, (heavy metal salute-style.) Use your other hand to pull the string taut from there.

Step 2: With the left hand, take the string loop over your middle and ring fingers, then take both strings around the thumb.

Step 3: Loop it over your pinkie and pull it back toward you.

Step 4: Twist it into a figure 8 and put the far loop of the eight over your forefinger, pulling the string back behind your hand.

Step 5: Now there are two loops on your thumb. Take both loops off the thumb and pass them to the back of the hand, via the gap between your middle finger and ring finger.

Step 6: Grab the bottom string that now runs across your palm and pull it. Voila! The string magically disappears and doesn't get caught in your fingers.